Athens, Ohio – QB Parker Novarro threw for a career-high record of 277 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns to defeat the Eastern Michigan Eagles, 35-10. The Ohio Bobcats preserved their lead in the Mid-American Conference tied with Miami and Bowling Green State at 5-1 each in conference play. For Collegefootballfan.com, we attended our first game ever on Frank Solich Field at OU’s Peden Stadium. We’ve now attended games at 96 different Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) venues.
Also, the first time we attended a Bobcat game in 2005, they played at Buffalo. We recorded Ohio U as our 100th team that day. Frank Solich was their first-year Head Coach. We designated the Buffalo Bulls as our 101st team that day. In a penalty-plagued game, Ohio U. triumphed, 34-20.
Bobcats and Eagles slug it out to start
This game got off to a rugged start as neither team could score in the first period. The Eagles blocked Gianni Spetic’s only scoring threat with his 31-yard FG attempt. In the second, EMU broke the deadlock scoring on QB Cole Snyder’s shovel pass to Delbert Mimms for an 18-yard jaunt. Novarro started to connect with his receiving corps on his record-setting night. Most were to short range targets who gained more after catches for both squads. Coleman Owen led the Ohio Bobcats with eight catches for 139 yards. Completing passes for 21, 34 and 31 yards on this drive, Novarro set up his first TD from three yards out to tie, 7-7.
With 2:30 left in the first half, Bobcat DE Ben McNaboe made a sensational, leaping snag of a Snyder pass high over his head to haul it down. It put the Cats with the ball on the Eagle 20. Anthony Tyus took it over from the one for the Ohio Bobcats lead at halftime, 14-7.
Defense gets Bobcats field position in the third quarter
The second half started out with both defenses halting opening drives with INTs. Quentavius Scarlett picked for the EMU Eagles and Tank Pearson hauled in a long attempt for the Bobcats while falling backwards. Two possessions later, Pearson picked his second to set up OU at EMU ‘s 25. Novarro wasted no time. He found a seam off tackle and ran untouched to give the Ohio Bobcats a 21-7 lead going into the fourth.
Eastern Michigan put together a 16-play scoring drive that stalled at the Ohio U. 11. There, Jesus Gomez converted a 29-yard FG to cut the Bobcats lead to 11. Ohio followed with an 85-yard drive as Novarro’s 16-yard pass to Eamonn Dennis took them to the one. Novarro scored from there to build the Ohio Bobcats lead, 28-10.
A sack of Snyder stalled EMU’s next series resulting in Kaci Seegars’ recovery at the Eagle 19. Novarro punctuated this possession with a four-yard score. He finalized the score, 35-10, improving the hometown Ohio Bobcats record in front of 14,133 in attendance to 7-3. More importantly, however, the MACtion victory maintained their conference tie for first with this win to go 5-1.
Fun MAC Finish as the season winds down
OU will travel next Wednesday to Toledo to take on the Rockets (6-4,4-2). We plan to be in attendance once again. We’re really loving these MACtion weekday night opportunities. Toledo already defeated Miami, 30-20, but lost to BGSU, 41-26. So, the Bobcats have a challenge ahead of them next week. OU’s lone MAC loss came at the hands of Miami, 30-20. Miami and Bowling Green will meet each other in their season finales. These battles should determine which two will meet for the MAC title game in Detroit on December 7 at high noon. Eastern Michigan (5-5, 2-4) hosts Buffalo (6-4, 4-2) next week. The Eagles seek a sixth win to salvage a bowl bid.
North to Wisconsin for Collegefootballfan.com
We head further north to Madison, Wisconsin for another first-venue experience. Not only do we go to see the U of W Badgers defend their venerable Camp Randall for our first time, but No. 1 Oregon with Heisman Candidate QB Dillon Gabriel comes to town. We haven’t seen the Ducks (10-0, 7-0) play since their 1995 Rose Bowl loss to Penn State. However, in 2020 during watered-down game opportunities due to Covid-19, we watched Gabriel quarterback Central Florida in a tough 36-33 loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats in Orlando. This turned out to be one of only three contests we were able to attend during that out-of-the-ordinary season. Looking forward to our first football visit in Wisconsin. We hope to see the Badgers at least make it interesting.
On Sunday, we already plan a visit to Lambeau Field to see the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Nearby, we’ll find a Packer bar to watch them play the Chicago Bears on TV with their die-hard fans while drinking beer and eating Brats and Cheese curds like all of them.
Special Thanks!
On my first trip to Peden Stadium, in the dark I found a remote parking lot with shuttle service. Aboard were just me and two Ohio U. fans, Melanie and Greg Pugh. About to leave, the driver got a call to come pick up a large group of high school kids. On a bus with only 14 seats, she wasn’t sure how she was going to fit 20-30. When we arrived to make the pick-up, a manager there offered we three adults on board if we would prefer to ride over in a separate SUV available. The three of us looked at each other and agreed to go. What service!
Before dropping us off at Peden, I asked where to find the return shuttle and where the ticket office was. Melanie interjected, “We have an extra you can have.” Their son, WR Eian Pugh, is on the team. His brother couldn’t make it this evening, so they offered it to me. Very nice of them! As we spoke further, I mentioned I’d seen the Bobcats play at Central Michigan previously this season. Greg told me Eian had been injured and was still recovering. He didn’t suit up this evening. Too bad, maybe he’ll suit up at Toledo next week. That would be great! As a sophomore, maybe we’ll have a chance to see him play for OU in another MACtion game in the future, if not the one next week. Thanks to Melanie, Greg and Eian for a ticket to see the game last night! Go Bobcats!
Great Christmas Gift: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales
Ed. by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writes Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to link to Amazon.com the purchase a copy and submit a review. Thanks!
